Olmec

noun

Ol·​mec ˈäl-ˌmek How to pronounce Olmec (audio)
ˈōl-
: an ancient people of the southern east coast of Mexico who flourished about 1200 to 400 b.c.

Word History

Etymology

Nahuatl Ōlmēcah, a coastal people in Aztec history, from Ōlmān, their homeland, probably from ōlli rubber

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Olmec was in 1852

Dictionary Entries Near Olmec

Cite this Entry

“Olmec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Olmec. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Olmec

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!